| I have grown Alstromeria in my garden previously and have been unsuccessful wintering it. Is it my understanding that I should pot this perennial indoors for the winter since we are in Zone 5 & 7? Also, what is the best answer to reduce the size of my Aster plant without loosing my blooms in the Fall. Many thanks for your advice. |
| Alstroemeria (Peruvian Lilies) are usually hardy to -10 degrees and should overwinter in the garden if you mulch over them after frost kills the foliage. The roots of these plants are brittle and it's difficult to dig and transplant them with any degree of success. Try leaving yours in the ground. Prune off the dead foliage after your first frost and then mulch over the tops of the plants with pine needles, pine boughs, straw or other loose organic matter. If you leave them in the ground they will naturalize by spreading their roots. It's too late to reduce the size of your aster plant and still retain the flowers. The way to keep these plants neat and compact, and full of flowers is to pinch them back every 3-4 weeks throughout the spring and summer months. By the fall they will be nice mounds, full of flowers. |
